SBW has contract approved by NRL

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The wait is finally over for Sonny Bill Williams, with the ARLC informing the Sydney Roosters that the code-hopping superstar’s 2013 playing contract has been registered.

After signing a one-year deal with the Roosters on November 13, it’s been a drawn out process for salary cap auditor Ian Schubert to approve the deal.

The dual-international is pursuing a boxing career on the side and has a fight against South African Francois Botha scheduled in February.

Williams represented the All Blacks this year before enjoying a stint in Japanese rugby, and there’s every chance he will switch back to the 15-a-side code after his commitments with the Roosters are finished in 2013.

At his welcoming press conference with the Roosters back in November, Williams seemed nonplussed about returning to league, making it clear he was only doing so to honour a handshake promise to the club’s chairman Nick Politis.

There were some concerns Williams would walk out on his Roosters deal if the NRL didn’t register the contract quickly.

Interim chief executive Shane Mattiske said signing off on the deal was a complex procedure.

“By the nature of Sonny Bill’s other sporting commitments there have clearly been some unusual circumstances around the contract including his direct negotiation of the contract through a legal representative,” said Mattiske.

“It has been the salary cap auditor’s absolute responsibility to review all aspects of the payments in the contract and the negotiations leading up to the contract.

“Ian Schubert has done exactly what he is required to do throughout this process and his task has been made more challenging by deficiencies in the Roosters’ documentation of the negotiations, which did not fully comply with the NRL’s player contract and remuneration rules.”

Mattiske said the Roosters can expect a fine in the new year for failing to put all their cards on the table.

The Roosters failed to follow regulations in recording and supplying information to the ARLC, Mattiske said.

Schubert had to seek advice from a solicitor in rubber stamping the deal and Mattiske said the ARLC would also keep a close eye on Williams commercial agreements.

“There are a number of assurances on the part of the club and in relation to Sonny Bill’s commercial agreements that are being relied upon in this process and that will be monitored,” he said.

“Given the unusual features of this contract it was necessary for Ian to engage a solicitor to assist with the investigation which included interviews of a number of persons and a consideration of various documents.

“Ultimately, a report of the investigation was furnished to the Commission along with advice from Senior Counsel.

“The Commission has also determined that the club should face a sanction … the amount of this breach will be assessed following a recommendation in the new-year.”

The Crowd Says (21) | Page 1 of Comments

I just can’t believe rugby league includes an individuals commercial agreements in the salary cap. Just a ridiculous set up which I am sure will continue to drive many players across to the open market.

The NRL has to be admired to sticking to a salary cap that has allowed every one of the 16 clubs to make the top 8 in the last 3 years.

Persistence has paid off and the NRL is rising as one across the clubs and fans.
We have football meat pies kangaroos and holden cars, along with Origin and xxxx and VB.
It might not be heaven, but gee it is close as you will ever get to going out with a bang.

Thïrd party Agreements”
There is no restriction on the amount a player can earn through third party agreements, where he is being paid for his own intellectual property,without the need to employ club logos or names and where the company involved is neither a club sponsor nor are they acting on behalf of a club to secure the player’s services.An example of this is a player promoting a brand or product,for example Billy Slater and Australian Bananas.”
Inglis for example could have a sponsorship deal with an outboard motor company.If Microsoft wanted to use Paul Gallen (LOL),he would not be restricted by salary cap limitations.

In fact many players do have 3rd party agreements that are outside the cap.
Individual players have registered third party agreements totalling in excess of $7.5m in 2011.
All third party agreements must be registered and approved beforehand.this is to ensure that they do not become a way fro clubs or players to use sponsors or 3rd parties to undermine the salary cap.

I find this statement extraordinary:
““Ian Schubert has done exactly what he is required to do throughout this process and his task has been made more challenging by deficiencies in the Roosters’ documentation of the negotiations, which did not fully comply with the NRL’s player contract and remuneration rules.”
Mattiske said the Roosters can expect a fine in the new year for failing to put all their cards on the table.
The Roosters failed to follow regulations in recording and supplying information to the ARLC, Mattiske said.”

Does this mean the Roosters were deliberately trying to mislead the NRL or they are incompetent and don’t know the processes? I have a hunch which, but nothing will come of this because most hard hitting journalists are on leave at the moment and this will pass by. Convenient? Other clubs, especially Parramatta that did everything correctly, must be seething.

Was it coincidental that BJ Leilua was sacked from the Roosters (yet the Knights want to sign him) a few days before SBW’s contract was ratified by the NRL? Did this free up some additional salary cap for SBW that the NRL said the Roosters had to find?

I seem to remember The Chooks CEO telling anyone that would listen . This is a vanilla contract ie straight forward, uncomplicated.
This was presented by the club through their solicitors. As it can NOT be ratified with Williams agent Nasser an unaccredited agent by
the NRL. This was never going to be a vanilla contract with the players international exploits.

Obviously a top 4 would be the better option,however having a 8 team semi series gives fans and players of clubs, incentives to watch and play to their utmost to get there.If you follow a team in the top 8,the excitement continues for at least an extra week.
It has the added benefit of securing a far better Tv deal,than a 4 team semi final series would.

The S15 has a guarantee for at least 1 team from each country(group) getting into a semi .What if a country had 5 hopeless teams,all at the bottom.That would be like lambs to the slaughter.

You could expand on that where SR guarantees a home final to conference winners no matter where they end up on the table overall ala the Reds 2012 finished 6th overall but had a home final which they duly lost because they weren’t really up to it not to mention had a few injuries. However the time will come when a lesser team will win a final due to home ground advantage ( let’s get real playing in front of your home fans is like having a 16th man.
To me the SR pity finalists are uncalled for however since they must have a conference winner I suggest they play where the finish on the overall ladder. If the winner of Conference A is outside of the 6th they don’t deserve to be there IMO but they should come in at 6th.

If an individual can negotiate a contract where it allows him to earn significantly more than his contract but doesnt conflict with his job description or sponsors what buisiness is it of the NRL. Seriously who do the nrl think they are restricting someones earning potential becuase it doesnt suit them but does not impact them financially. All this will end in a court case where the NRL will come out the big losers. For starters its breach of the trade practices act.

Suggest my post as to 3rd party agreements ,covers to a degree that aspect.No restriction on earnings by an outside company ,with no ties to a club or teh game.Billy son of Slater is a classic example.

I agree and you make a very good point about clubs facilitating the third party deals. It really is a hornets nest. We need the cap to keep the competition as competitive as it is but its flawed in restricting peoples write to maximise thier earnings which, is why i believe they need to introduce a points system. Clubs good be given say 5000 points each and then that is thier currency to negotiateand submit the contracts to the NRL.It is flawed but they should be forced to submit what ever is the highest bid in points by an opposition team. for example lets say the dragons have a 1000 points left in thier cap and the roosters have 500. then if SBW wanted to sign with the roosters then they would have to register him under the points that the dragons were prepared to.